On June 5, 2025, over eight years after Nintendo debuted its innovative hybrid handheld/home console, the publisher launched its successor – the Nintendo Switch 2.
Four days after release, the console had already broken internal records, reaching global sales of 3.5 million units. It surpassed expectations in the US, with over 1.1 million units sold, and became Japan’s biggest console launch to date after shifting almost one million units in the country.
It’s a far stronger start than for the original Switch, which sold 2.7 million within its first month. Nintendo has predicted hardware sales of 15 million and software sales of 45 million by March 2026.
Clearly, the Switch 2 has been met with an eager audience of gamers. But because critics had to wait until launch day to get their hands on one, opinions have been slow to come in as to whether it’s worth the $450 price tag.
Safe bet
Game Informer’s Kyle Hilliard, who gave the console a B rating, said it was a no-brainer for Nintendo to iterate on the Switch’s success.
“Nintendo has sold more than 152 million Switch consoles, which goes a long way toward explaining why, for the first time in its history, Nintendo released a follow-up and added a sequential number to its name instead of coming up with something new,” wrote Hilliard. “In many ways, the Switch feels like a safe sequel to a previous success.”
“The new hardware is all very familiar,” Hilliard noted, “and as a result, it does lack much of the excitement that usually accompanies a new Nintendo console.”
Tabitha Baker offered similar sentiments in her 4.5/5 review for GamesRadar. “The Switch 2 takes its lead from its predecessor, offering (broadly) the same functionality and form factor. At its core, this is an easily recognisable experience, the same docking system, same control scheme. But it’s so much more than that on top.”
Better Joy-Cons
Despite looking similar, the new Switch 2 Joy-Cons snap onto the console magnetically rather than sliding into place. They attach to protruding pins that Baker feared could cause problems.
“Having these sticking out the side of the device felt like a recipe for disaster, even if they are sheltered by the edges of the tablet itself,” she wrote. “There’s a little flex to these pins – but that could be a good thing. If those pins were rigid, I’d be worried about snapping them straight off, but the extra flexibility does give me a little more peace of mind. Time will tell whether that flexibility becomes a problem in itself, though.”
Still, Hilliard thinks the new Joy-Con controllers are a marked improvement: “The control sticks feel smoother, the buttons are a little bigger, and the magnetic system […] is an upgrade compared to the button and rails system of the original Switch.”
Mouse controls
The new Joy-Cons also have mouse capability. “[It’s] either going to be the best thing this console has going for it or will be forgotten about in a matter of weeks,” said The Gamer’s Jade King. “There’s potential here, but at launch it seems like a gimmick.”
“There’s potential here, but at launch [mouse control] seems like a gimmick”
Jade King, The Gamer
NME’s Ali Shutler, who gave the Switch 2 a four out of five rating, noted that there’s not much need for mouse control outside of Switch 2 Welcome Tour and believed it’s “the only part of the Switch 2 experience that feels awkward.”
Baker thought that the success of the mouse functionality will be measured by which games support it. “If it’s relegated to toggle-able mini-games and the odd shovelware escapade, it’s an expensive mistake.”
Still, she was impressed with the performance. “Tracking is nippy, acceleration feels well-balanced, and response is consistent. The slimmer form factor of a Joy-Con under your hand doesn’t feel nearly as comfortable as a full mouse during longer play sessions, and the skinnier R button has a particularly short stop that’s a little vulnerable to accidental presses. But the actual sensor part? Good to go.”
Game Chat and UI
Another new feature for the Switch 2 is its chat function, enabling users to play with friends without having to use a third-party app via an in-built microphone and additional video capabilities.
Shutler called this function “perhaps the biggest innovation” for the console, as it “makes playing online a lot more communal”. He did note, however, that to use this function you’ll eventually need a Nintendo Switch Online membership once the free first year offer runs out on March 31, 2026.
But Hilliard found the Switch 2’s UI to be underwhelming, calling it “sterile” compared to what was offered on Wii, 3DS, and the Wii U. “Scrolling through games on the Switch 2 is quiet and boring,” he expressed. “I was hoping using the Switch 2’s menu would feel new and novel.”
King had similar feelings, and remarked that it’s “the same template you’ve been using for the past eight years.”
“There’s no getting around the fact that this underwhelms, and despite feeling like I can slide into this ecosystem without fear of being lost and overwhelmed, I still crave something new,” she wrote. “A daring and fresh way for my games to be presented instead of taking the safest route.”
Battery life
The Switch 2’s battery was another area that came in for criticism.
“At the system’s most demanding, I managed two hours and 40 minutes of battery life,” Baker noted. “That was a test from 100%, playing Breath of the Wild: Switch 2 Edition at full display brightness. That’s a downgrade from the far more power-efficient Switch OLED and a fairly short battery life even compared to the original device.”
“While it’s certainly lasting a lot longer than more power-hungry devices like the Asus ROG Ally, Nintendo has produced more battery-efficient handhelds in the past.”
Hilliard was of the same opinion. “Nintendo reports that the Switch 2’s battery is about 1.2 times better than the original, but I admit skepticism. Across my hours of playtime since the Switch 2 launch, the battery seems to drain faster in handheld and tabletop play. Thankfully, the two USB-C port options make charging easier while playing, but this may be the primary – potentially only – disappointment between the Switch and Switch 2.”
However, The Guardian’s Keith Stuart, who gave the Switch 2 a four out of five rating, was more neutral.
“Nintendo is promising between two and 6.5 hours [for battery life],” Stuart wrote. “I did a mixed test in which I played Mario Kart World, downloaded and played Hitman, and used GameShare and GameChat, and got about 3.5 hours, which is not bad.”
Display
One aspect reviewers were pleasantly surprised with on the Switch 2 was its larger display, despite the console dropping back to an LCD screen rather than an OLED.
Hilliard expected to be disappointed with Nintendo’s decision “having spent so much time with the OLED model”, but was impressed with how similar they appear to be.
“The Switch 2 does not have an OLED screen, but you could have fooled me,” he expressed. “The screen is vibrant and colourful, and the HDR options do make a positive difference with certain games. The refresh rate is strong, and the games that take advantage of it benefit tremendously.”
King said she “hardly [noticed a] difference” between the two due to the Switch 2’s 7.9 inch screen, increased colour range, HDR options, and the 1920×1080 resolution.
GamesRadar’s Baker did a side-by-side comparison between the Switch OLED and Switch 2 playing Pokémon Violet. She found that while the “jump from OLED screen to LCD is noticeable, it’s still a good-looking panel.”
“The OLED presented brighter yellows and greens much better, and a more vivid picture overall and a punchier feel. By comparison, the Switch 2 darkens those tones slightly. Its blacks aren’t as deep as those of the OLED, but it’s vibrant where it counts.”
“[While the] jump from OLED screen to LCD is noticeable, it’s still a good-looking panel”
Tabitha Baker, GamesRadar
Games on the Switch 2 run between 720p and 1080p in handheld, and up to 4K in docked mode. But The Gamer’s King said that she hasn’t seen much evidence of the latter.
“Claims that the majority of titles [support] a full 4K resolution are exaggerated,” she said. “I wouldn’t be surprised to see many peaking at 1440p or making decent use of dynamic resolution while docked.”
Stuart emphasised that for ports like Cyberpunk 2077, players will not get the same experience as on a higher spec gaming setup. “[The game] caps out at 1080p with the framerate at 30fps in performance mode. Don’t expect cutting edge PS5 Pro or PC visuals – we’re looking at something between PS4 and PS5.”
As for HDR capabilities, Baker described it as “a slightly more complicated beast”.
“The system does seem to be a little off in its implementation in certain games. I’ve noticed that Cyberpunk 2077 and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild appear washed out with the HDR setting enabled,” she wrote. “Switching the feature off reveals a far more punchy picture, with rich colours and greater impact overall.”
“With HDR switched off and that screen running at full brightness, this is a real delight. Smoother motion, a bigger panel, and 1080p resolution make for real tangible upgrades over the previous generation and I’d certainly take them over a higher-contrast OLED experience.”
Launch games
Moving on to software, the Switch 2’s launch line-up didn’t impress critics. Mario Kart World is the only headline first-party title, followed by Switch 2 Welcome Tour.
But as NME’s Shutler pointed out, there are ports, upgrades, and enhanced editions of popular titles to play on top of that.
“The Switch 2 is powerful enough to make old favourites feel new,” he wrote. “From rediscovering the magic of GameCube software via the expanded online library to travelling through the open-world Pokémon Scarlet without all the technical drawbacks, there’s something for everyone.”
Then there’s the ports of AAA games like Cyberpunk 2077, which Baker noted provided an “indication of where Nintendo wants its system to be positioned.”
“If Nintendo can keep up with upcoming blockbuster releases, the Switch 2 could well be in with a shot at becoming a primary driver for a lot more players,” she said.
King highlighted upcoming games like Donkey Kong Bananza, Splatoon Raiders, The Duskbloods, and Pokémon Legends: Z-A, alongside ports of Super Mario Party Jamboree and Kirby and the Forgotten Land.
“By the end of the year, the Switch 2 library is going to be a potential force to be reckoned with, but right now, it is very wanting,” she concluded.
Comparisons with rivals
In terms of graphics capabilities, Baker pointed out that consoles like the PS5 still “hold the upper hand” against the Switch 2.
“Side by side with PS5’s 4K performance, it’s obvious this isn’t a miracle worker. Everything lacks that final touch of sharpness in docked mode compared to the PS5.”
“But this is still all very impressive. We’re talking about the difference between a slimline handheld that has far more functionality than the PS5 and measures in at a fraction of the size to boot.”
King is optimistic about blockbuster third-party titles on the Switch 2. “They are still going to lag slightly behind other versions on PS5 and Xbox, but now differences are much less substantial,” she wrote. “In a couple of years, you should be able to pick up major games on Switch 2 and no longer feel like you’re having to compromise so drastically.”
When comparing to other handhelds like the Steam Deck, Asus ROG Ally, and even the OLED Switch, GamesRadar’s Baker said the Switch 2 “isn’t without competition”.
“The cheaper OLED version runs with better battery life and the Asus ROG and Steam Deck OLED offer better grip, a wider choice of games, more storage, and a larger set of controls.”
However, Baker does recognise that the Switch is “threatening these handheld PCs for the first time”, writing that it’s “smoother in some scenarios, comes with its own set of exclusive titles, and is far more portable than chunkier models.”
Conclusions
Overall, the consensus among critics is that the Switch 2 is a worthy successor to the original Switch, and the upgrade is more than worth it.
The Gamer’s King described the Switch 2 as a “fundamental improvement” on the Switch, and “easily the most capable console Nintendo has ever made with the hardware to prove it.”
She added: “The Switch 2 is a refinement of everything that came before. It feels like Nintendo looked at the original console and more general complaints and sought to create a successor that felt more sturdy, appeared more premium, and beneath the aesthetics, was more capable and powerful.”
“You have increased potential for third-party blockbusters, a smoother user interface, and an easy transition to a new generation that almost makes up for its banal and predictable delivery.”
“I like it when Nintendo tries something new in an attempt to give me something I didn’t know I wanted. It didn’t do that with the Switch 2”
Kyle Hilliard, Game Informer
Game Informer’s Hilliard felt the same, stating that the Switch 2 felt “arguably too safe”.
“I like it when Nintendo tries something new in an attempt to give me something I didn’t know I wanted. It didn’t do that with the Switch 2. It improved on basically every element of the Switch (except its battery life), made it backwards compatible, and made it look feel better. My primary complaint is that I have not been surprised.”
He concluded: “Rather, I have been nodding appreciatively, grateful that I have a version of one of my favourite consoles of all time that looks sharper, plays some of my favourite games at a higher quality. It’s what I wanted as opposed to what I didn’t know I wanted, and I am happy with that.”
